Conservative Columnist George Will Leaves Republican Party Over Trump!

In a stunning move, one of America's premier Conservative commentators has unaffiliated himself from the Republican Party because of its support of Donald Trump. This cannot be good news for The Donald, and for the Party itself. It's one thing for Will to decline to support Trump's candidacy, but even worse for him to sever his registered voting ties with the entire GOP because of his dissatisfaction with their direction.

[Pulitzer-prize winning] Conservative columnist George Will says he's changed his party affiliation, and during a speech urged Republicans not to vote for presumptive party nominee Donald Trump.

"Make sure he loses," Will said, acknowledging that he thinks it's too late for the GOP to come up with another candidate but they can "grit their teeth for four years, and then win the White House."

In his most recent column, Will similarly wrote that Republicans "can save their party by not aiding its nominee."

Conservative columnist George Will has parted ways with the Republican Party, changing his voter registration to "unaffiliated" because of the GOP's support of Donald Trump.

Will tells The Washington Post that he made the change several weeks ago. The news site PJ Media reports that Will discussed his decision during an event Friday for the conservative group the Federalist Society.

Art_Deco saidIn a stunning move, one of America's premier Conservative commentators has unaffiliated himself from the Republican Party because of its support of Donald Trump. This cannot be good news for The Donald, and for the Party itself. It's one thing for Will to decline to support Trump's candidacy, but even worse for him to sever his registered voting ties with the entire GOP because of his dissatisfaction with their direction.

[Pulitzer-prize winning] Conservative columnist George Will says he's changed his party affiliation, and during a speech urged Republicans not to vote for presumptive party nominee Donald Trump.

"Make sure he loses," Will said, acknowledging that he thinks it's too late for the GOP to come up with another candidate but they can "grit their teeth for four years, and then win the White House."

In his most recent column, Will similarly wrote that Republicans "can save their party by not aiding its nominee."

CuriousJockAZ saidGeorge Will will not be missed. Most millennials probably have no idea who he even is. There are a whole lot of those old dinosaurs that I hope he takes with him. Good riddance.

At 58 you're hardly a spring chicken yourself. Be careful that Trump doesn't take you with him into the train wreck he's creating.

Will has been a powerful, respected and authoritative voice for the US Right Wing for many years. Now is the time when Trump and Republicans will need many voices, to speak to many demographics. Neither can afford to throw away people like Will, and the voter niche with which he connects.

And the demographic Will has as his audience may not be pretty millennials, but earlier generations of Republicans and Conservatives with the deep pockets. Having the money to fund a modern billion-dollar Presidential election media campaign. Not to mention all the down-ticket campaigns.

And what do millennials bring to the table? Some votes, yes, but with a sketchy turnout performance. As for money, with a very few exceptions it can't compare with what the pre-millennials can deliver as a group.

So Will is indeed a very big loss for Trump & Republicans. Both in terms of the support he could have brought to their ticket, and in terms of symbolism. And don't forget, he still retains a national pulpit; you'll continue to hear from him right up until election day. George Will is the kind of advocate Trump & Republicans can ill afford to lose at this stage, in what is shaping up to be their fading chances for November.

And today (Sunday) Republican Senate Majority Leader McConnell, in answer to a direct question on a news interview program, declined to say that Trump is qualified to be President. And you're still backing this loser?

Art_Deco saidIn a stunning move, one of America's premier Conservative commentators has unaffiliated himself from the Republican Party because of its support of Donald Trump. This cannot be good news for The Donald, and for the Party itself. It's one thing for Will to decline to support Trump's candidacy, but even worse for him to sever his registered voting ties with the entire GOP because of his dissatisfaction with their direction.

[Pulitzer-prize winning] Conservative columnist George Will says he's changed his party affiliation, and during a speech urged Republicans not to vote for presumptive party nominee Donald Trump.

"Make sure he loses," Will said, acknowledging that he thinks it's too late for the GOP to come up with another candidate but they can "grit their teeth for four years, and then win the White House."

In his most recent column, Will similarly wrote that Republicans "can save their party by not aiding its nominee."

Art_Deco saidAnd today (Sunday) Republican Senate Majority Leader McConnell, in answer to a direct question on a news interview program, declined to say that Trump is qualified to be President. And you're still backing this loser?

I'm shocked that you care what Mitch McConnell thinks...I sure don't. Another dinosaur who needs to be shown the door

Art_Deco saidAnd today (Sunday) Republican Senate Majority Leader McConnell, in answer to a direct question on a news interview program, declined to say that Trump is qualified to be President. And you're still backing this loser?

I'm shocked that you care what Mitch McConnell thinks...I sure don't. Another dinosaur who needs to be shown the door

You conveniently miss the point: Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader is the senior Republican in the US Senate. If he can't utter the words that Trump is qualified to become President, as every loyal Republican automatically should, then Trump is further doomed. Trump's losing the support of "his" own party, that's nominating him.

McConnell's refusal to say it is virtually unprecedented in modern times. At the same time, I think he's an obstructionist fossil, who helped create the Party of No concept to deny (unsuccessfully) President Obama a second term. Even if in so doing he delayed the economic recovery after the Bush Recession, ignoring the plight of ordinary Americans to advance his Party's political goal of taking back the White House & Congress (he achieved the one, but not the other). And other Congressional Republicans obediently fell into lock step.

And in the process becoming an author of the political climate that produced Donald Trump. And now McConnell doesn't think Trump is qualified to become the President? Whereas apparently you do? As I indicated, you've both bought yourselves tickets on the failroad.

Art_Deco saidMcConnell's refusal to say it is virtually unprecedented in modern times.

Everything about Trump's candidacy is "unprecedented" including the fact that he garnered more votes than any GOP candidate in history --- spending far less money to do it. Not that this means anything at the end of the day, other than he managed to do this without the support of most, if not all, of the major players in the GOP. Who knows where all this may lead. Heck, the GOP may figure out a way to steal the nomination from Trump right out from under his nose at the convention. That being said, underestimating Trump is probably not a smart move. No one saw this coming, including that "powerful, respected and authoritative voice for the US Right Wing for many years", George Will. I think it's safe to say that no one really knows for sure where this all is headed...aka Unchartered Territory.

Meh. George Will has famously criticized George Bush, Newt Gingrich, Anne Coulter and God knows how many other Republicans. With a friend like that who needs enemies, eh? ;-)

Besides, he also said in an interview back in 2013 that he was leaning towards Libertarianism. It's hardly a stretch to say he's critical of both parties; no wonder he quit. He probably detests Clinton just as much as Trump and he probably would have openly criticized any of the Republican front runners in due course.

YVRguy saidMeh. George Will has famously criticized George Bush, Newt Gingrich, Anne Coulter and God knows how many other Republicans. With a friend like that who needs enemies, eh? ;-)

Besides, he also said in an interview back in 2013 that he was leaning towards Libertarianism. It's hardly a stretch to say he's critical of both parties; no wonder he quit. He probably detests Clinton just as much as Trump and he probably would have openly criticized any of the Republican front runners in due course.

Agree. Will is an egocentric and has lost what little influence he once had. He won't be missed.

Art_Deco saidMcConnell's refusal to say it is virtually unprecedented in modern times.

Everything about Trump's candidacy is "unprecedented" including the fact that he garnered more votes than any GOP candidate in history --- spending far less money to do it. Not that this means anything at the end of the day, other than he managed to do this without the support of most, if not all, of the major players in the GOP. Who knows where all this may lead. Heck, the GOP may figure out a way to steal the nomination from Trump right out from under his nose at the convention. That being said, underestimating Trump is probably not a smart move. No one saw this coming, including that "powerful, respected and authoritative voice for the US Right Wing for many years", George Will. I think it's safe to say that no one really knows for sure where this all is headed...aka Unchartered Territory.

George Will, Ben Stein, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, etc. are all part of the GOP establishment -- the "Country Club Republicans" -- and are loathed by their base. The impending nomination of Trump is the extended middle finger of the base to the establishment. The loathing, of course, is mutual. The establishment has had an imperial attitude toward the base -- saying the correct things to placate the base when election time rolls around. This time it's changed. The base has had their Howard Beale moment, and they're not taking it any more. This applies to the punditry as well as the politicians.

The Democratic Sanders supporters are doing the same to a lesser degree.

Art_Deco saidMcConnell's refusal to say it is virtually unprecedented in modern times.

Everything about Trump's candidacy is "unprecedented" including the fact that he garnered more votes than any GOP candidate in history --- spending far less money to do it. Not that this means anything at the end of the day, other than he managed to do this without the support of most, if not all, of the major players in the GOP. Who knows where all this may lead. Heck, the GOP may figure out a way to steal the nomination from Trump right out from under his nose at the convention. That being said, underestimating Trump is probably not a smart move. No one saw this coming, including that "powerful, respected and authoritative voice for the US Right Wing for many years", George Will. I think it's safe to say that no one really knows for sure where this all is headed...aka Unchartered Territory.

George Will, Ben Stein, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, etc. are all part of the GOP establishment -- the "Country Club Republicans" -- and are loathed by their base. The impending nomination of Trump is the extended middle finger of the base to the establishment. The loathing, of course, is mutual. The establishment has had an imperial attitude toward the base -- saying the correct things to placate the base when election time rolls around. This time it's changed. The base has had their Howard Beale moment, and they're not taking it any more. This applies to the punditry as well as the politicians.

The Democratic Sanders supporters are doing the same to a lesser degree.

I agree. And I hold George Will and the Republican establishment totally responsible for the Party's decline into the world of hatred and bigotry and nauseating ignorance, selfishness and stupidity. They had the ability to counter the FOX drumbeat at one time and they chose to let that horse run because it generated revenues and reactionary votes. Now they're Shocked! Shocked! that the Party has nominated a candidate that perfectly reflects what the Party has been encouraged to become. It started with Newt and the turn against the establishment was when Lugar gave up and gave in. My God, Sarah Palin?